Episode Summary

A massive storm brings the NCIS team aboard the USS Borealis, where everyone becomes a suspect once the crime scene proves that Mother Nature wasn't the only culprit. Tension builds when McGee discovers that his estranged father, Navy Admiral John McGee, was on board during the incident.

McGee's dad shows up.

This season there has been 4 father episodes and in this episode it's McGee's dad who comes back after not being the best father to him and it seems that Gibbs has been more of a dad to McGee than his actual father McGee still cares about his dad when we see a good scene where Gibbs interrogates John and learns he has cancer This was a fairly good McGee episode.moreless

MORE TIVA

Classy Tim

This was a wonderful episode and I loved it. Tim showed a lot more class than his father. I loved the way Gibbs didn't like the way the Admiral was always belittling Tim and had his back. He really is the true father figure to his whole team. My only criticism is that we have already lost Eli and Jackie this season and this seems a little excessive even though he isn't dead yet. Stage 4 is not good. The writer for this episode was new and he did a great job. Great job NCIS.moreless

Yet another nicely Mc-centric episode.

And this one was the most emotionally powerful one, to date. I mean, let's face it. When we (the viewers) first meet Admiral McGee, he comes off sounding like Tony DiNozzo's evil twin, the way he bad-mouths his own son right in front of Gibbs!

But, after watching this show for two-thirds of its nine seasons, it finally occurred to me that DiNozzo's insults are more like the affectionate teasing of an older brother. Whereas, the admiral's so-called "teasing" sounded more like a never-ending attempt to hide bitter disappointment with Tim. As if what he truly desired in a son was 49% brain and 51% brawn! Yet, once the truth comes out, regarding the state of the admiral's health (and that's relatively easy to deduce, even before the in-story deduction), you realize that Admiral McGee wasn't so much disappointed as worried. Worried that his supposedly soft son might not be emotionally strong enough to handle the bad news. Or, even worse, secretly rejoice in it! Which makes me doubly glad that Tim proved him wrong by being the bigger man. By accepting the news with genuine and gracious concern. Perhaps, next season, the writers can do an episode where we (the viewers) finally get to meet Tim's mom. moreless

Navy Lieutenant Carlton Mane

Guest Star

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)

Near the end of the episode when Admiral McGee confronts his aide about the murder, watch Lt. Maine. When the Admiral says "He doesn't need an appointment, Lieutenant.", Maine snaps to attention and salutes. When we switch back to the view of Admiral McGee, Maine turns to salute again.

QUOTES (9)

Gibbs: Why lie? Why avoid the truth? Why avoid your son?Admiral McGee: Alright. (sits down) Because I'm sick. No one could know. Stage 4. I wasn't feeling well when we showed up for the exercises. I knew Haber was top notch so I transferred to the Borealis. Haber gave me something for the pain...but he knew what was causing it.Gibbs: He was going to report it to NavCent.Admiral McGee: Doctor/Patient privilege is a little different when it comes to National Security. So that meant the end of my career.Gibbs: It's motive to keep the Commander quiet.Admiral McGee: Gibbs... I've been a lot of things. Been a lousy father, I've been a son of a bitch. But I'm no murderer.McGee: (watching from the observation room, begins to cry)

Palmer: Yeah, I keep thinking about the look on Agent McGee's face when he saw his dad.Ducky: We certainly can't pick our fathers, Mr. Palmer. But the real tragedy occurs when our fathers do not pick us.

Admiral McGee: Apologies are hard for me.McGee: They're hard for everybody, dad.Admiral McGee: There are some things I wish I'd done differently.McGee: You know, Gibbs says that apologies are a sign of weakness. I always thought you'd be one to agree with that.Admiral McGee: Like I said, Agent Gibbs is a smart man.

Admiral McGee: Who's behind the glass? Who's watching?Gibbs: You scared he's gonna see you break?Admiral McGee: My relationship with my son is none of your damn business.Gibbs: You make him think he's nothing. You're the one with nothing.

Abby: McGee? Everybody knows it's been really rough on you, having your dad just show up like this. Maybe you should stand up to him, a-and tell him how you feel. You've spent your entire life avoiding this moment that could be... liberating.McGee: Abby, he's the Admiral. No one talks to him, they just listen.

Palmer: So, Agent Burley was Agent DiNozzo before Agent DiNozzo was Agent DiNozzo.Ducky: That is correct. One cannot help but be confused by the Downton Abbey complexity of government bureaucracy. Yeah, the thing to remember is that we are all but one Stan Burley away from reassignment. And that's why we should always, uh, focus on the job in hand.

Gibbs: What can I do for you, Admiral?Admiral McGee: Get me off the ship.Gibbs: Can't.Admiral McGee: Sure you can.McGee: No, Dad, he can't. A man died here today. Till we figure out what happened, this whole crew's on lockdown.Admiral McGee: Understandable, but I have someplace to be.McGee: Been hearing that my whole life.Admiral McGee: Good to see you, too, son.

Ziva: Where's McGee?Tony: Maybe he blew away coming to work this morning.Ziva: Or maybe he met someone last night.Tony: That's doubtful. That might be the reason I would be late.Ziva: These days, my friend, I'm not so sure.Tony: You've noticed?Ziva: Yes, I am quite aware you hit a dry spell recently.Tony: Like Lawrence of Arabia.

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